Growth of 
Lawn Tennis in 
California 



Copyrifl^ed 
1013 



CompHnumis of 

WRIGHT df DITSON 

San FranciffCQt Cal, 



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Growth of 
Lawn Tennis in 
California 



Copyrighted 
1913 



Compliments of 
WRIGHT b- DITSON 

San Francisco, Cat. 






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GROWTH OF LAWN TENNIS IN CALIFORNIA 



ON this tha twenty-fifth anniversary of the forma- 
tion of the Pacific States Lawn Tennis Associa- 
tion, we are pleased to place before the Lawn 
Tennis players and other lovers of the game in Cali- 
fornia a short sketch of the growth of the sport in this 
state, compiled from records in our possession, and pictures 
of the champions during the past quarter of a century. 

The period prior to 1889 during which Lawn Tennis, 
transplanted from the East by enthusiasts who came to 
the Golden Gate to dwell and brought their favorite pas- 
times with them, may be passed over lightly, for the game 
went through an uneventful infancy, and for the first decade 
following the formation of the Pacific States Lawn Tennis 
Association in that year by a few enthusiastic players, 
the growth of the game, although rapid and consistent 
was not marked by any epoch making events. Clubs 
and tournaments increased rapidly and a strong rivalry 
began to spring up between the northern and southern 
portions of the State, which in itself gave an incentive 
to the players of these two sections to increase their 
efficiency. 

The chief drawback which prevented the experts of 
that period from becoming stars of the first magnitude 
was the fact that the competition was almost exclusively 
intrastate, and there was next to no opportunity for the 
leading players of the far west to measure their skill 
with that of the cracks of the east where the game had 



naturally advanced further, or with those of other coun- 
tries. 

To be sure several forerunners to the all conquering 
Miss May Sutton did visit the east during this period 
and with most creditable results. Thus, in 1892, it 
was visited by Charles P. Hubbard, who, although not 
quite good enough to defeat the best players of that 
section, nevertheless obtained a ranking of No. 10. 

It is safe to say that the year 1898, just ten years after 
the formation of the Association, marked the real turning 
point for the game, not in California alone, but in the 
whole Pacific Coast. That was the season that a team 
composed of four of the leading players of the east, — prob- 
ably the most representative that has ever in any coun- 
try made such a trip — toured the far west demonstrating 
in many tournaments their own skill and the possibili- 
ties of the game. This history making invasion was 
brought about as a result of the forethought and planning 
of Mr. George Wright, whose friendship foi several of 
the leading players in both sections of California made 
him anxious to see the game develop in this state along 
the best lines. 

This unusual team was composed of no less players than 
Malcolm D. Whitman, then Singles Champion of the 
United States, Holcombe Ward, and Dwight Davis (the 
latter later the donor of the World famous trophy which 
bears his name) National Doubles Champions, and Beals 
C. Wright, National Interscholastic Champion, four 
stars of the first magnitude, all of whom won fame both 
in National and International competition. 

They reached California during the height of the 
season month, September, and a Round Robin was ar- 




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ranged at Del Monte as being the most desirable place, in 
which they were to meet the state's strongest players, — 
who were then Sumner and Samuel Hardy, and George and 
Robert Whitney, — both in Single and Doubles competition. 
A week of practice was given, to allow them to accus- 
tom themselves to the new climatic and court conditions, 
for it must be remembered that the usual asphalt playing 
surface of the far west differs materially from the turf 
courts of the east, as the Pacific Coast stars who visit 
the latter section of the country can testify. Whether a 
player wears spikes or not on turf he becomes accustomed 
to the slight give or resiliency which is wholly absent on 
asphalt, and the balls ^^ shoot" much more rapidly from 
the latter surface beside becoming lighter as the felt 
covering wears off (instead of heavier as they do on grass) 
which causes them to curve and duck more, and necessi- 
tates a sharper volleying game. 

The visiting stars quickly accustomed themselves to 
the climate and conditions, although Davis, who is very 
heavy and aggressive, succeeded in wearing through three 
pairs of sneakers in one week's play. 

The following extract taken from Wright & 
Ditson's Official Guide gives results of matches 
played — 

Trip of Eastern Champions to the Pacific Coast. 

'^ At the end of the Tournament at Newport it 
was arranged that four of the Eastern players 
should make a trip to the Pacific Coast and to 
the Northwest. The four were Whitman, Ward, 
Davis and Wright. It had been intended that 
Larned should go, but he was unable to do so. 



Five different tournaments were played — at 
Del Monte, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, and Vic- 
toria, B. C. In the first named they met the 
two Hardy s and the two Whitney s, each player 
of one team to play every player of the other. 
Sumner Hardy proved too good for Ward, 6-2, 
6-3, 6^, and for Wright 7-5, 6-2, 6-3. All 
the other matches in Singles w^re won by the 
Eastern team. In the Doubles, however, the 
Hardys beat Whitman and Wright in the 
straight sets, and Whitman and Wright had 
already beaten Davis and Ward in three sets — 
rather a curious upset. The Whitneys made 
little show against Whitman and Wright. It 
should be said that Sumner Hardy got two sets 
in his match with Davis and one from- Whitman, 
making both play their best tennis." 

The Doubles tournament which w^as w^on by the Hardy 
brothers demonstrated the splendid sportsmanship of the 
California players, for the management of the tournament, 
even though they felt that their visitors were likely to 
outclass their home players and annex the event, insisted 
upon their participating in the Doubles, and none were 
more insistent on this point than Messrs. Sumner and 
Samuel Hardy, the title holders, although a w^in for 
them meant the permanent possession of the challenge 
cups upon which they had two legs. 

During the course of these tournaments the visiting 
team was royally entertained, and indeed throughout the 
whole of the trip luncheons and dinners w^ere tendered 
them by the various clubs in every city which they visited 
and they returned home feeling that the trip w^as a most 
memorable and enjoyable one and that their entertain- 
ment both on and off the court spoke volumes for the 



thorough sportsmanship of their western hosts. After 
leaving Del Monte the team visited Portland, Seattle, 
Tacoma, Vancouver and Victoria, finding especially good 
grass courts in the last mentioned city. Every match in 
the north was won by the visitors, but they left feeling that 
without a doubt California had the foundation for a 
great tennis future and that all that was needed was prac- 
tice and a more varied experience. 

In the San Francisco Examiner of Sept. 8th, 
1898, Mr. George Wright's personal views of the 
California style of play appeared as follows: — • 

^^After watching the different matches between 
the Coast and Eastern champions, I would say 
that the two styles of play vary in the greater 
variety of strokes, in the way of lobbing, smash- 
ing, fore and back hand play and twist service 
employed by Easterners. 

Your players hold themselves principally to 
cross and back court play at a medium pace. 
This they do very well. I can fully understand 
why they have not developed all the strokes 
mentioned above. They have not had oppor- 
tunities to play against players of different 
styles, as our men have, nor have they the 
number of tournaments to play in. 

They have been too much confined to play- 
ing with each other, as is shown by the fact that 
they all play nearly the same style, while each 
of the Eastern men has a particular style of his 
own.'' 

As has been said, this trip served as a turning point for 
Lawn Tennis in California, the enthusiasm and incentive 
aroused by the visit of the Eastern men resulting in re- 
newed effort by the leading players. The number of 



players and tournaments Increased, and as a result of this 
and the interest shown by the city authorities in building 
courts in Golden Gate Park for the school boys, the gen- 
eral standard of play was persistently raised. In 1900 
the Hardy Brothers visited the East, and three years 
later another leading player, A. E. Bell, but their trips, 
in spite of the excellence of their play, indicated that the 
standard was not yet as high in the far West as in the East. 

In 1904, however, came the triumphal conquest of the 
wonderful Miss May Sutton (now Mrs. Thomas C. 
Bundy) which proved to the astonished world that what- 
ever the standard of play among the men, California 
stood alone among players of the fair sex. Not only did 
she win the National Championship and many other 
important events with ease, but th^ following year visited 
England and had the honor of winning the coveced 
English Championship, which the English Association 
calls the ^Championship of the World. '^ 

California's leading place in American Lawn Tennis, at 
least where '^meie man" is concerned, was not so quickly 
attained, however, and in fact it took another Eastern 
invasion to show the Californians their real power and 
convince the association that it was high time for the two 
rival sections of the state to join forces and send a repre- 
sentative team to the Ease for the National tournament. 

In 1908, by invitation of the Pacific States Lawn Tennis 
Association, a team made up of N. W. Niles, Wallace F. 
Johnson and Irving C. Wright, all being ranked at various 
times among the ten first players of the Country, visited 
California and competed in the Championship held at 
Del Monte, in which all of them were defeated both in 
Singles and Doubles before the Challenge round. 




SECOND EASTERN TEAM TO VISIT CALIFORNIA, SEASON OF 1908 
WALLACE F. JOHNSON 'IRVING C. WRIGHT NATHANIEL W. NILES 



Without doubt the success of the young Californian 
players against this second team of eastern experts en- 
couraged the far west to send on the following year, 1909, 
five of its leading players, McLoughlin, Janes, Long, 
Bundy, and Sinsabaugh, the first named pair being the 
team which had won the Pacific Coast Doubles that year. 
They stopped at Chicago and won the National Prelimi- 
nary Doubles tie, over the representatives of the East, 
West and South, which entitled them to contend for the 
National Championship at Newport. Although defeated 
there they gained a ranking of second among the National 
Doubles teams; and the invaders received the following 
rank in Singles: — McLoughlin, 6th; Long, 7th; Bundy, 
12th; and Janes, 28th. Their record was so credi- 
table that the California Association sent three of 
the same players, McLoughlin, Long and Bundy East 
again in 1910, and T. Hendricks, who with Bundy 
had won the Pacific States doubles, accompanied them, 
and once again the California Team won the National 
Preliminary Doubles, though losing the Challenge match. 
Thomas Bundy did finely in the Singles, winning the 
National ^' All Comers" and being ranked 2nd; McLough- 
lin, 4th; Long, 5th, and Hendricks 39th. 

In 1911 the first three again made the trip East, but 
this time the Doubles, Team, Bundy and McLoughlin, 
were defeated in the preliminaries by Little and Touchard; 
but all gained higher honors in Singles, McLoughlin 
winning the ''All Comers," duplicating Bundy's success 
of the year before. He was ranked No. 2, Bundy 3rd and 
Long 5th. 

California's repeated assaults on the Championships 
culminated last year in the wonderful record of eight 



National Championship titles out of fourteen being 
captured, Maurice E. McLoughlin winning the Singles, 
and with Thomas C. Bundy the Doubles; Miss Mary K. 
Browne, Women's Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles; 
CUfton B. Herd, the National Interscholastic Champion- 
ship, and Miss May Sutton the Clay Court Women's 
Singles and Mixed Doubles. The two first named players, 
and Long as well, have been selected at different times 
to play on ^^ Davis Cup" teams. 

McLoughhn's individual record for the year, which con- 
sisted of winning five important Championships in Singles 
and four Double events, and several of minor importance 
without a defeat, is a feat perhaps never equalled in 
American Tennis, certainly not since the days of Mal- 
colm Whitman's triumphal march to the Championship. 



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WILLIAM H. TAYLOR, JR. 

Pacific States Champion 

1889—90—91—92 




THOMAS A. DRISCOLL 

Pacific States Champion 

X893 




SAMUEL HARDY 

Pacific States Champion 

1894—1896 




SUMNER HARDY 

Pacific States Champion 

1895—1898 




GEORGE F. WHITNEY 

Pacific States Champion 

1897—99—1900—01 




LEWIS R. FREEMAN 

Pacific States Champion 

1902 




ALONZO E. BELL 

Pacific States Champion 
1903 




DRUMMOND McGAVIN 

Pacific States Champion 
1904 




GEORGE J. JAXES 
Pacific States Champion 
1905—1909 




MELVILLE H. LONG 
Pacific States Champion, 
190G— 1908 



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AlAURICE E. McLOUGHLIN 

Pacific States Champion 
1907—1911—1912 



The California Lady Players 

Long before the Pacific States forced its way into the 
front rank among the men players of the country, her 
lady experts had begun to show the way to their Eastern 
sisters. As far back as 1899 Miss Marion Jones won the 
Women's National Singles championship and repeated 
her victory in 1902. Two years later, Miss May Sutton 
went east and swept away every important title before 
her, completely out-classing the other players of the fair 
sex. The next year, 1905, she crossed the Atlantic and 
won the English Championship from Miss Kate Douglas, 
thus becoming undisputedly the leading woman player 
of the world. She lost her title in 1906 to her great rival, 
but regained it in 1907, and although she has since limited 
her play to local or less important events up to last year, 
she still remains the ^^ peerless player." 

Two years after Miss Sutton's withdrawal from the 
major tournaments appeared from the northern section 
of the State (she hailed from Los Angeles) another star 
who for three years shone fully as refulgently and in turn 
made a clean sweep of all the important events. This 
was Miss Hazel Hotchkiss of San Francisco, who in 
1909, 1910 and 1911 won the National Singles andDoubles 
titles with consumate ease, h^r only real rival during that 
time being yet another Californian, MiSs Florence Sut- 
ton. When after Miss Hotchkiss' retirement from the 
lists it became necessary for the Pacific Coast to find 
another player capable of sustaining the laurels relin- 
quished by her last representative, there appeared, this 
time from Los Angeles again. Miss Mary K. Browne, who 



took up the shield and bore it unmarred by defeat, 
through to victory in the Women's Singles, Doubles and 
Mixed Doubles. 

California, north and south in equal share, may well be 
proud of such a record and rejoice that in these past and 
present champions and her still younger champions in th3 
making she has given to the country men and women of 
a world wide fame. 



WOMEN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONS 



1891— Mrs. Martin Chase, nee Miss Bertha Couch. 
1892— Miss Ella Morgan. 
1893— Miss Bee Hooper. 
1894— Miss Bee Hooper. 
1895 — No tournament played. 

1896— '' 

1897— '' 

1898 — Mrs. Farquhar, nee Miss Marion Jones 

1899— Mrs. Harold Doeg, nee Miss Violet Sutton. 

1900— Miss Marion Hall. 

1901— Mrs. Thomas C. Bundy, nee Miss May Sutton 

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1906 — Mrs. George W. Wightman, nee Miss Hazel 

Hotchkiss. 
1907 — Miss Florence Sutton. 
1908— Mrs. Thomas C. Bundy, nee Miss May Sutton 

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MRS. MARTIN CHASE 

nee 
MISS BERTHA COUCH 

Pacific States Champion 

1891 




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MRS. HAROLD DOEG 

nee 
MISS VIOLET SUTTON 

Pacific States Champion 

1899 




MISS MARIAN HALL 
Pacific States Champion 
1900 



^i^. 







MRS. GEO. W. WIGHTMAN nee MISS HAZEL HOTCHKISS— 1906 

2. MRS. THOMAS C. BUNDY nee MISS MAY SUTTON 

1901—02—03—04—05—08—09—10—1 1—12 

3. MRS. FARQUHAR nee MISS MARIAN JONES— 1898 

Pacific States Champions 




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MISS FLORENCE SUTTON 

Pacific States Champion 

1907 




MISS MARY K. BROWNE 
National Lady Champion 




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CALIFORNIA 



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